Discipleship: An Introduction to Systematic Theology and Apologetics

1. Discipleship: An Introduction to Systematic Theology and Apologetics The Doctrines of Creation: The Heights Church March 13, 2016

2. The Big Picture • We seek to become and then make disciples (believing learners) by: • Knowing what we believe. • Why we believe it. • Being able to communicate what we believe and why in an effective, winsome manner to fulfill the commands for all Christians in Matthew 28:18-20 and 1 Peter 3:15-16.

3. What is the Doctrine of Creation? Scientific Method vsSystematic Theology Acquire sufficient applicable data for the phenomenon being studied. The Bible contains all the information/data we need. Form a hypothesis to explain the data. Propose a Doctrine via Systematic Theology. Prove the hypothesis is true by consistent, empirical, independent experimental results. Reach consensus that the Doctrine is the correct interpretation of the Bible by independent review of theologians from generation to generation.

4. What is the Doctrine of Creation? • From doctrines Christians deduce what to do or how to act in specific situations. • Human fallibility and sin limits Systematic Theology. • Many things are not governed by God’s revealed will but by God’s secret will. • Not every question we would like answers to are covered in the Bible. • We should not be surprised that both General and Special revelation are studied in essentially the same way.

5. What is the Doctrine of Creation? The Dawn of Science • Copernicus (1473-1543) rejects the 2nd century Ptolemaic view that the earth is the center of the universe. • October 31, 1517 Luther nails his 95 thesis on the Witenburg Church door. • 1522 – 1660 Europe is engulfed in Religious wars. • Tycho Brahe (1546 -1601) compiles extensive data on planetary motion. • Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) develops his three laws of planetary motion. • 1609 Galileo invents the telescope.

6. What is the Doctrine of Creation? Mars The Pre-Copernicus/Kepler Solar System Earth

7. What is the Doctrine of Creation? The Kepler Solar System Earth Sun

8. What is the Doctrine of Creation? An Ellipse is the locus of all points such that x+y = a constant P Y . F₁ . F₂ X

9. What is the Doctrine of Creation? The Kepler’s Laws: • All planets move in elliptical orbits having the sun at one focus. • A line joining any planet to the sun sweeps out equal areas in equal times • The square of the period of any planet about the sun is proportional to the cube of the planet’s mean distance from the sun.

10. What is the Doctrine of Creation? The Philosophers • Rene Descartes (1596-1650) Rationalism/Father of modern Philosophy I think, therefore I am. • George Berkeley (1685-1753) To be is to be perceived • John Locke (1632-1704) Empiricism/Father of Liberalism “Blank slate” We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

11. What is the Doctrine of Creation? The Four quintessential Enlightenment publications • 1686 Isaac Newton (1642-1726) publishes his Principia Mathematica Philosophiae Naturalis from which he is able to derive Kepler’s laws of planetary motion, thus setting the stage for the Enlightenment. • 1748 An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding David Hume (1711 – 1776) • 1781Critique of Pure Reason Immanuel Kant (1724 – 1804) • 1859Origin of the Species Charles Darwin (1809 – 1882)

12. What is the Doctrine of Creation? An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding • David Hume takes Empiricism to the “graveyard” and threatens the destruction of science by claiming the axiomatic Law of Cause and Effect is merely a customary relationship. • The Law of Cause and Effect: Everyeffecthas an antecedent cause, and every causeproduces an effect. • Hume attacks cause and effect based upon three questionableassumptions: If A causes B then: • A&B always occur close together spatially. • A always precedes B in time. • A is always followed by B.

13. What is the Doctrine of Creation? An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding • Hume claims you cannot prove that a given cause always produces a given effect as opposed to customarily producing the effect. • How can you be sure the grass is wet following rain because of the rain? • How can you be sure the 8 ball went into the corner pocket because it was struck by the cue ball which was struck by the cue stick which was propelled by the pool player into the cue ball?